As a medical professional who opposes animal experimentation, I am frequently confronted with the assertion that this field is heavily regulated, as was recently suggested in a USA TODAY editorial ("Violence won't save animals," Our view, Medical research debate, Monday).

The Animal Welfare Act that governs the use of animals in labs is applicable to less than 5% of animals used in experimentation. Despite their ability to suffer, mice, rats, birds and coldblooded animals are used most often and receive no legal protection.